By Steve Keating

(Reuters) – Due to its efforts in Peng Shuai and willingness to risk money for its principles, the Women’s Tennis Association is now the most effective human rights organisation on earth, stated Kelley Eckels Currie who was the former U.S. Ambassador at-Large to Global Women’s Issues.

Peng was a former world tennis number one. She posted a social media message alleging she had been sexually assaulted and abused by an ex-top Chinese official. Peng reappeared at Beijing’s weekend.

WTA is the international main organization for women’s tennis and Peng has been threatened with expulsion from tournaments in China as a result of the investigation.

Currie spoke to Reuters about Tuesday, saying that if you’d told me a week ago that Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) would be one of the strongest and most courageous human rights organizations in the globe I’d have believed you were crazy.

“The WTA puts more than a million dollars in jeopardy over the lives of one woman from the Women’s Tennis Association.”

After 25 years of human rights work, Currie said she hadn’t seen any other group “actually put anything on the line for human rights” in her 25-year career. Currie was the ex-US Representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. She was nominated by Donald Trump.

Peng had a video conference with Thomas Bach (President of the International Olympic Committee) on Sunday. However, the WTA stated that this didn’t address any concerns it has about Peng’s wellbeing.

Peng is a former Olympian. Peng has been criticized by the United States, France and Britain as well as prominent tennis players.

The announcement comes just as Beijing prepares for hosting the Winter Olympics in February. International rights organizations and other groups have demanded a boycott of Games due to China’s record on human rights.

Currie stated, “The tennis season continues all year.” Currie said that as long as the WTA continues to have issues with her, and players continue to voice concern about her, this will be a constant issue in the spotlight.

It will be an issue at both the Olympics, the Australian Open and Roland Garros. When tennis has an audience, she’ll be there every time it does anything.”